The meeting we held in the Edwardses’ family room did him a disservice; of course, he was the candidate and if he really was against the war, it was up to him to stand his ground. He didn’t. If he had, it almost certainly would have been Edwards and not Dean who emerged early on as the antiwar candidate. But Edwards didn’t want to look “liberal” and out of the mainstream; he was, after all, the southern candidate and thought of himself as Clintonesque.

These decisions are important, and mustn’t be taken likely. One’s image is at stake. Like what tie to wear. To avoid looking too liberal, it’s important to wear red ties, and invade Middle Eastern dictatorships.